Double-twist twisting spindle



June 7, 1960 KARL-HEINZ REHN 2,939,268

DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING SPINDLE Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

16 I4 34 ll f, l I I /T i I llll d 36 FIGS INVENTOR: KARL-HEINZ REHN June 7, 1960 KARL-HEINZ REHN DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING SPINDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1956 FIG. 3

iii/711711111111 Ill FIG. 4

I I I I I I 1 I n W INVENTOR. KARL-HEINZ REHN United States Patent DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING SPINDLE Karl-Heinz Rehn, Remscheid-Lennep, Germany, assignor to Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Wuppertal Obcrbarmen, Germany Filed Oct. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 613,406

Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 6, 1955 4 Claims. (Cl. 57-5833) The present invention relates to double-twist twisting spindles and more particularly to a means for decreasing the wear of threads to be twisted as they pass over the thread guide body of the rotating head of the twisting spindle. v

In double-twist twisting spindles a rotating thread twist head with thread accumulating ring and thread guide body of calotte-shaped surface is employed to obtain a softer and more regular thread tension during the t-wistingprocess. The calotte-shaped surface of thread guide body is so formed to give the running thread a balloon-like rotation path (thread balloon) without changing its course abruptly. When the calotte-shaped surface is smooth, the contact between the thread and the full length of the smooth surface results in relatively large frictional forces. bet-ween, the surface and thread. These forces can become great enough to cause a rapid wearing of the calotte-shaped surface or serious damage to the thread. i

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby these frictional forces can be reduced materially.

A further object is to provide a rotatable twisting head having a calotte-shaped surface designed to minimize the frictional contact between the thread and calotte-shaped surface.

These objects are achieved by the twisting spindle of this invention wherein a thread guide body of the rotatable twisting head is provided with a series of arcuate ridges, preferably concentric with the axis of rotation of the twisting head, on the calotte-shaped surface where the thread contacts said surface. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the ridges take the form of concentric rings about the axis of rotation of the twisting head.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of a doubletwist twisting spindle having a horizontal axis of rotation;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spindle of Fig. 1 taken along the plane 2--2;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spindle of Fig. 1 taken along the vertical diametric plane;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a diametric plane of a double-twist twisting spindle having a vertical axis of rotation; and

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section of the calotte-shaped surface of a thread guide body showing an additional embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, the double-twist twisting spindle having a horizontal axis of rotation comprises a twisting head designated generally as 10, which is connected to spindle shaft 11. The twisting head comprises a whorl 12 for driving belt, thread accumulating ring 14 and thread guide body 16 with calotte-shaped thread-contact surface. The outer surface of the calotte-shaped guide body 16 is provided with arcuate ridges 18 between the 2,939,268 Patented June 7, 1960 ICC crown and edge of the calotte-shaped surface in the form of rings which are concentric with the axis of rotation of the twisting head 10. The ridges 18 present a tangential, calotte-shaped surface to the thread passing thereover. They are preferably arcuate in cross-section. A thread passage 20 is provided along a portion of the axis of the twisting head 10. The thread passage 20 is turned to provide in the accumulating ring 14 an aperture or thread exit 22 adjacent the crown of the calotte-shaped surface.

There is mounted on the rear portion 24 of the twisting head 10 a tapered spool-mounting member 26 rotatably journalled on said rear portion by ball bearings 28. A weight 30 is connected to the spool mounting member 26. The cone-shaped portion of spool 32 is frictionally mounted on the spool mounting member 26. The thread body on the spool is designated at 34 and a thread entry member 36 is provided at the rear portion of the passage 38 through the spool 32; I 1

The thread T is drawn off the spool 32 and passes through thread passages 38 and 20 where it emerges at thread exit 22 onto the accumulating ring 14 and then slides over the calotte-shap'ed guide body 16 provided with ridges 18. The twisting head 10 is rotated and the thread is drawn from the apparatus through a thread guide eye similar to the eye 52 of Figure 4, by a takeup spool for the twisting thread (not illustrated). The rotation of the twisting head imparts a double twisting in the thread as it passes between the supply spool 32' and the takeup spool. The supply spool 32 is held in a stationary position by the weight 30 which resists any rotational force imparted by the rotation of the twisting head 10.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the axis of rotation is vertical rather than horizontal. The parts of the apparatus are the same for the most part as those of the embodiment of Figures 1-3, and the same reference numerals have been used to designate the corresponding parts. The chief structural difference lies in the absence of the weight 30 for prevention of rotation of the supply spool 32, which weight will not function to prevent rotation in an apparatus having a vertical axis of rotation. The means for preventing rotation of the supply spool 32 comprises a magnet 46 mounted in a disc 40 fixed to the spool mounting member 26 and a corresponding magnet 48 on bracket 50 of machine frame. A flange 42 of the disc 40 is shaped to conform to and serve as an extension of the calotte-shaped portion 16 of the twisting head 10. The flange 42 preferably is provided with ridges 44 similar to the ridges 18. The permanent magnet 46 is mounted in the flange 42 of disc 40. The magnets 46 and 48 are arranged so that they attract each other whereby they hold the flanged disc 40 and spool 32 connected thereto against rotation. A fixed thread guide eye 52 is positioned along the axis of rotation. The thread passes through the thread guide eye 52 to a takeup spool (not illustrated) The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 is essentially the same as that described for Figs. 1-3- the essential difference being the magnetic means 46, 48 for holding the supply spool 32 against rotation.

Under some circumstances it is desirable that the ridged surfaces on the calotte-shaped portion 16 of the twisting head 10 be made of a material having higher wear resistance than the material from which the twisting head is molded or cast. In such a case the calotte-shaped portion of guide body 16 is provided with individual rings 18' having a smooth, preferably rounded surface. These rings are fastened to the calotte-shaped surface by means of screws, rivets, glue or the like. This construction provides the advantages of higher resistance to wear of the protruding p'ortions of the surfaces in contact with 7 ring.

i 3 the threadduring the "operation of the apparatus. Additionally, should'wear become excessive, the rings may be replaced much less expensively than would be the case if the entire twisting head were to be replaced.

By the arrangement of a number of' guide surfaces 18 with small radius on the calotte arc, the stretch over which the thread is in full contact with the twisting head surface is considerably shortened, as compared withthe arrangement known hithetro, in which the thread is in full contact over the entire calotte surface. Accordingly, the adhesive friction in the new arrangement is considerably diminished. On the other hand, the character of the calotte formand the favorable effect achieved by it is preserved.

7 The invention ishereby" claimed as follows: V

1.' Double-twist twisting spindle head for twisting threads comprising a rotatable twisting headhaving a thread guide body with a calotte-shaped surface, at least a portion of-said surface comprising a series of closely spaced ribs having rounded, thread-contacting surfaces, said ribs being concentric with'the axis of rotation of the twisting head, and spaced at intervals along said surface between the crown and edge of said surface and a thread accumulating'ring at the" crown of said calotte-shaped surface; and thread passage means in said head for supplying thread through said head tosaid thread accumulating 2. Double-twist twisting spindle head for twisting threads comprising a'rotatable twisting head' having a thread guidebody with calotte-shaped thread contacting surface, said surface consisting of a series of closely spaced, circular ridges of increasing diameten said ridges having rounded, thread-contacting surfaces and being concentric with the axis of rotation'of said'twisting head, presenting a tangential, calotte-shaped surface to thread passing thereover and a thread accumulating-ring at the crown of said calotte-shaped surface; and thread passage means in said head for supplying thread through said head to said thread accumulating ring.

3. The apparatus of claim-2 wherein the circular ridges are provided by rings of wear-resistant material secured to the calotte-shaped surface ofthe twisting head.

4. A double-twist twistingspindle comprising a rotatably mounted mountin 'nremberhaving around peripheral edge; a flangeabout said edgermeans mounted on one side ofsaid memberffof'm'ounting' a' thread supply spool; a rotatable twisting. head mounted'for rotation on the other side of said niember, said twisting head having a thread guide body-with"ajcalotte-shaped surface consistingofa series of closely spaced, circular ridges of increasing diameter, saidridge's having rounded surfaces and being concentficiwithithe axi's of rotation of said twisting head, presenting a tangential, calotte-shaped surface to thread passing thereover and a, thread accumulating ring at the crown of said calotte-shapedsurface; said flange extending toward said twistinghead and having circular ridges withrounded surfaces defining an extension of the calotte shape defi'ned by said twisting head surface; means for preventing rotation of the mounting member and supply cop' thereon; and thread passage means in said head for supplying thread from the spool to said thread accumulating ring.

References 'Citedfin the-filerof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (In addition 955,185) 

